Method of addressing money flows coming from on-line game accounts to receiver entities having different purposes

ABSTRACT

A method of addressing a money flow (M) coming from an online game website ( 2 ) to a receiver entity ( 4, 5, 6 ), through the intermediation of a banking company ( 3 ), includes, in sequence, the steps of: -entering and logging-in (F 1 ) a on-line game website ( 2 ) by a user ( 1 ); -transferring (F 2 ) the log-in data (D) from the on-line game website ( 2 ) to the banking company ( 3 ); -selecting (F 3 ) an addressing mode of the money flow (M); -selecting (F 4 ) the receiver entity ( 4, 5, 6 ) of the money flow (M); -playing (F 5 ) a game on the on-line game website ( 2 ); -transferring (F 6 ) the money flow (M) from the on-line game website ( 2 ) to the banking company ( 3 ), based on the selected addressing mode; and -transferring (F 7 ) the money flow (M) from the banking company ( 3 ) to the selected receiver entity ( 4, 5, 6 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of addressing money flows coming from accounts of on-line games, such as on-line poker, to receiver entities having different purposes. More specifically, the invention provides a method, which uses the on-line game channel to raise a portion of money deriving from the bets and/or winnings and address it, as appropriation or donation, to philanthropic organizations, banking companies, social-security departments, insurance companies, investment funds and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the last years, on-line game websites have quickly spread.

In particular, a user desiring to take part in the game enters the website and log him/her in by inputting his/her personal data. The system automatically activates the step of creation of a on-line account, into which the player pays the amount he/she desires to address to the bet. At this point, the user can begin to play and any game winnings are transferred to the on-line account.

Although nearly all the on-line websites implement, by now, systems for controlling the input/output money flows to/from the on-line accounts, it often happens that the user gets into the swing of the game, thus investing all his/her money resources, always losing them and falling into debt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problem by providing a method which, by using the on-line game channel, raises a portion of the money flow deriving from the bets and/or winnings, before it reaches the on-line game account, and addresses it, by appealing to the player's free choice, and through the intermediation of a banking company, to a player's account or investment, or to one or more humanitarian organizations.

For example, with specific reference to the present Italian pension scenery, the method of the invention can be used for preserve the user economical and contributory position, by addressing to the INPS (Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale) a portion of the money flows deriving from the winnings to a on-line game.

Alternatively, the money flows deriving from the bets and/or winnings to one or more on-line games can be addressed, as a donation, to one or more humanitarian organizations. It results that the method of the invention allows a portion of high money volumes produced by the gambling world to be used to improve the economical and social conditions of the more problematic realities, as well as to assist no profit organizations in fundraising.

In other words, the method of the invention aim to appeal to the mental attitude of bet, hazard, counter-spell, and, more generally, to the player's psychology, in order to positively transform these “vicious” behaviours, by rendering them saving, investment, beneficence and/or donation instruments.

These and other objects, which will better appear in the following, are obtained by the inventive method of addressing money flows coming from on-line game accounts to receiver entities having different purposes, whose features are listed in the enclosed independent claim 1.

Advantageous aspects of the invention appear from the dependent claims.

Therefore, the invention provides a method of addressing at least one money flow coming from a on-line game website to at least one receiver entity, through the intermediation of at least one banking company. The method comprises, in sequence, the steps of:

-   -   entering and logging in at least one on-line game website by a         user;     -   transferring the log-in data from the on-line game website to         the banking company;     -   selecting an addressing mode of the money flow;     -   selecting the receiver entity of the money flow;     -   playing at least one game on the on-line game website;     -   transferring the money flow from the on-line game website to the         banking company based on the selected addressing mode; and     -   transferring the money flow from the banking company to the         selected receiver entity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics of the invention will appear clearer from the following detailed description, referring to purely exemplary and therefore non limiting embodiments thereof, illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows the subjects involved in the inventive method of addressing money flows and the exchange of data and money flows among them;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows the subjects involved in an alternative embodiment of the inventive method of addressing money flows and the exchange of data and money flows among them; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the various steps of the method of the invention.

In the above listed figures, corresponding elements will be identified by the same reference numerals.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the subjects involved are the following:

-   -   a user/player 1, which enters one or more on-line game websites         2 and logs him/her in;     -   at least one on-line website 2, entering which the user 1 plays         and, in case, wins;     -   a banking company 3, which receives from the on-line game         website 2 a flow D of data concerning the user 1 and a money         flow M calculated according to modes which will be describer         below; and     -   at least one receiver entity of the money flow M, e.g. a         humanitarian organization 4, a social-security department 5         and/or an insurance company 6.

Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 2, instead of a direct, and thus simpler, management of the data D and money M flows by the on-line game website 2 to the banking company 3, an indirect management thereof can be provided.

To this end, there is provided an interface 7, e.g. displayed as an icon on the on-line game website 2, which is suitable for linking the on-line game website 2 with an active ambient provided by the banking company 3, inside which the user 1 selects the addressing mode of the money flow M and the receiver entity 4, 5, 6 of such a money flow M, as it will be illustrated in detail in the following of the present specification.

The steps of the inventive method are described below with reference to FIG. 3.

Firstly, the user/player 1 enters the on-line game website 2 and logs him/her in (step F1) according to known ways, i.e. by inputting his/her personal data, a user name and a password. The log-in step further provides opening a on-line account, into which the user transfers the amount he/she desires to address to the bet and into which any winnings are transferred.

Data inputted in step F1 are simultaneously transmitted (step F2, data flow D) to the banking company 3, for example according to a SSO (Single Sign-On) mode.

As it is known, this SSO mode allows a user to authenticate himself/herself a single time and to gain access to all computer resources to which he/she is authorized. Owing to this mode, different managers, namely the on-line game website 2 and the banking company 3, manage data of the same user 1.

The steps of log-in F1 and transmission F2 of the data flow D from the on-line game website 1 to the banking company 3 are followed by those of selection (step F3) of the addressing mode of the money flow M and selection (step F4) of the receiver entity (humanitarian organization 4, social-security department 5 and/or insurance company 6) of the money flow M.

In the following of the present invention, the wording addressing of the money flow refers to an appropriation into an account or investment of the same user 1 or a donation to a humanitarian organization.

In the event of a direct management of the data D and money M flows by the on-line game website 2, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the steps F3 and F4 are carried out directly on the on-line website 2.

With specific reference to step F3 of selecting the addressing mode of the money flow M, the user 1 can choice to address, i.e. to set aside/donate a bet percentage or a winnings percentage.

In the event the user 1 decides to address a bet percentage, this latter can be calculated as a percentage to be subtracted from the bet or a percentage to be added to the bet.

As an example, it is assumed that the user 1 transfers into his/her on-line account 100

for the bet and decides to set aside/donate 5% of the bet, i.e. 5

. In the first case (percentage to be subtracted from the bet) of 100

gambled, 95

will be addressed to the bet and 5

will be set aside/donated. In the second case (percentage to be added to the bet), of 100

gambled, 100

will be addressed to the bet and further 5

will be set aside/donated.

In the event the user 1 otherwise decides to set aside/donate a winnings percentage, the three following modes of addressing the money flow M are provided:

-   -   ante-bet mode (ABM): the user 1 selects a priori, i.e. before         playing and winning, a winnings percentage to set aside/donate;     -   post-bet mode (PBM): the user 1 selects a posteriori, i.e. after         having played and won, a winnings percentage to set         aside/donate; and     -   mixed mode (MM): the user 1 selects a priori a winnings         percentage to set aside/donate and, after having played and won,         he/she increases the amount to be set aside/donated with an         additional winnings percentage.

Otherwise, with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 2, steps F3 and F4 are performed in an active ambient provided by the banking company 3.

Therefore, the method provides a further step (step F3 a) of entering, through the interface 7, an active ambient provided by the banking company 3.

To this end, in the home page of the on-line game website 2 a dedicated icon is present, for example designated with the acronym GTG (Game To Gain), by clicking on which the user 1 enters the active ambient of the banking company 3.

Once steps F3 and F4 have been performed, the interface 7 returns (step F4 b) to the on-line game website 2.

This second implementation of steps F3 and F4, although less simple than that shown in FIG. 1, has the advantage that it does not require changes to be made to the on-line websites, which are typically reluctant to modify their management ways of the on-line accounts.

The addressing mode of the selected money flow M and the receiver 4, 5, 6 of such money flow M are saved. From that time on, every time the user 1 enters the on-line game website 2 or he/she clicks the icon GTG for gaining access to the active ambient provided by the banking company 3, a message, for example in the form of a pop-up, will inform him/her of the current mode of appropriation/donation and the receiver of the percentage, of the bet or winnings, set aside/donated. The user 1 will be able to confirm the mode of appropriation/donation, as well as the receiver of the appropriation/donation previously saved, or to modify them.

It results, advantageously, that each addressing of money can be managed by the user by flexibly varying the percentage of appropriation/donation and the receiver entity of the appropriation/donation.

At this point the user 1 plays (step F5) at least one on-line game and the percentage of the bet or any winnings, i.e. the money flow M, transits (step F6) from his/her on-line account to the banking company 3. In turn, the banking company 3 attends to transfer (step F7) the money flow M to the at least one receiver entity 4, 5, 6 previously selected by the user 1.

The method of the invention provides a preliminary step of identifying a on-line game website different from that where the first log-in has been performed (step F1) and, if the parameters of appropriation/donation and choice of the receiver of the appropriation/donation (steps F3, F4) have not been set, it will ask for them as a new state. This occurs since, if desired, it is possible to select different modes of appropriation/donation and different receiver entities, based on the on-line game website on which one is playing.

Moreover, the method provides a preliminary step of selecting the banking company 3 with respect to which to set the appropriation/donation transferring mechanism, in the event in which an exclusive agreement has not been previously made with one banking company 3.

Finally, the method of the invention has the following advantageous effects:

-   -   a free choice, by the user/player 1, of the amount to be         addressed to the appropriation/donation and of the receiver         entity of the appropriation/donation;     -   no cost for the receiver entity 4, 5, 6 of the         appropriation/donation;     -   the on-line game websites increase their imagine, reputation,         exclusiveness. In fact, in a context wherein the on-line game is         vortically increasing its turnover, it is a “positive” aspect to         allow users, which are more and more numerous and often         “dependent” on the game, to address a portion of the bet or         winnings to a own appropriation or to a humanitarian         organization. Thus, the method becomes a real responsible game         instrument;     -   a return on the investments, e.g. in the form of a percentage on         each transaction, for the on-line game website 2 and the         interface 7 (Game To Gain) between the on-line game website 2         and the banking company 3.

Of course the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments previously described and illustrated in the appended drawings, but numerous modifications of detail within the reach of a person skilled in the art can be made thereto without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, as a further evolution, the method can provide that the appropriated amounts can be collected into a money account, which is subsequently transferred directly into a common investment fund and that winnings can be collections of a share of the investment fund. 

1. A method of addressing at least one money flow (M) coming from a on-line game website (2) to at least one receiver entity (4, 5, 6), through the intermediation of at least one banking company (3), comprising, in sequence, the steps of: entering and logging-in (F1) the on-line game website (2) by a user (1); transferring (F2) the log-in data (D) from the on-line game website (2) to the banking company (3); selecting (F3) an addressing mode of said at least one money flow (M); selecting (F4) said at least one receiver entity (4, 5, 6) of said at least one money flow (M); playing (F5) at least one game on the on-line game website (2); transferring (F6) said at least one money flow (M) from the on-line game website (2) to the banking company (3), based on the selected addressing mode; and transferring (F7) said at least one money flow (M) from the banking company (3) to the selected receiver entity (4, 5, 6).
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step (F2) of transferring said registration data (D) from the on-line game website (2) to the banking company (3) is carried out in a Single-Sign-On way.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step (F3) of selecting the addressing mode of said at least one money flow (M) provides to address a percentage of the bet.
 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said percentage of the bet is a percentage to be subtracted from or added to the bet.
 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step (F3) of selecting the addressing mode of said money flow (M) provides to address a percentage to the game winnings.
 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said percentage of the game winnings can be addressed in the following modes: ante bet mode (ABM): the user 1 selects a priori, i.e. before playing and winning, a winnings percentage to set aside/donate; post bet mode (PBM): the user 1 selects a posteriori, i.e. after having played and won, a winnings percentage to set aside/donate; and mixed mode (MM): the user 1 selects a priori a winnings percentage to set aside/donate and, after having played and won, he/she increases the amount to be set aside/donated with an additional percentage of the winnings.
 7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising, upstream said selection step (F3) of the addressing mode of said at least one money flow (M) and downstream said selection step (F4) of said at least one receiver entity (4, 5, 6) of said money flow (M), respectively, the further steps of: entering (F3 a), by means of an interface (7), an active ambient provided by said banking company (3); and returning (F4 b) to said on-line game website (2).
 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said interface (7) is provided as an active icon displayed on said on-line game website (2).
 9. A method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises, downstream the step of first log-in (F1) a on-line game website, the further steps of: displaying a warning message of the current addressing mode of the money flow (M) and the receiver entity (4, 5, 6); and possible modification thereof.
 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said message is displayed as a pop-up.
 11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one receiver entity (4, 5, 6) is a humanitarian organization (4), a social-security department (5) and/or an insurance company (6). 